| Over the last year, we have seen a barrel of oil sell | | | | installed and generating electricity. Until 2010, these |
| anywhere from under $50 to about $140 a barrel. A | | | | numbers kept all but those with money whose main |
| gallon of gas from $2.40 to almost $4 or more in | | | | concern is the environment out of the market. |
| different parts of the US. The only real reason your | | | | Everything changed this year. The introduction of the |
| electric bill has not been all over the place as well is | | | | federal stimulus program, The American Recovery |
| that electric utility companies are legal monopolies and | | | | and Reinvestment Act, ARRA, with the 30% cash |
| thus are managed by the government. These | | | | back tax credit along with aggressive depreciation |
| monopolies have to request rate hikes and show a | | | | schedules (MACRS - Modified Accelerated Cost |
| need before they can raise their price for power sold | | | | Recovery System), have brought the financials into the |
| to you and me. | | | | range for both homeowners and businesses to |
| Many factors exist today that will put serious pressure | | | | consider. |
| on these prices. Those of us who work in this space | | | | In addition, many states have added their own stimulus |
| have no doubt that these prices will be heading up and | | | | funding to sweeten the pot and even many of the |
| staying there. Cost of production and diminishing | | | | utilities have started to add dollars to the decision as |
| resources aside, there is mounting global pressure to | | | | they are being forced to come up with certain |
| add cost to fuel sources that exact higher costs to | | | | percentages of their electrical production be clean |
| society - carbon taxes, cap and trade and feed in | | | | renewable in s few short years. Depending on where |
| tariffs already widely exist around the globe and are | | | | you live, these funding sources can combine to make |
| here to stay. The US is likely to have their own before | | | | buying a solar Photo Voltaic system an absolute no |
| the end of 2010, or shortly thereafter, which will | | | | brainer. Even if somehow magically electric rates |
| increase prices to all of us immediately. | | | | stayed the same it is a good decision. As these rates |
| When homeowners and businesses consider | | | | go up, it becomes a GREAT decision. |
| renewable energy options, they are usually already | | | | With that being said, the solar PV market is still a |
| sold on the fact that doing so is in the best interest of | | | | relatively young market prone to inventory shortages |
| our planet and our country. Having to depend on other | | | | and delays. Since these stimulus funds always have |
| countries for the bulk of your supply to generate | | | | dates associated, a widespread "awakening" in the US |
| power is a tenuous position. Many of these countries | | | | could easily leave those who want to unable to |
| have political differences with the US and much of the | | | | participate as they just got into the game too late. |
| rest of developed world. If they all got together and | | | | Finally, we all remember cash for clunkers....for those |
| decided to act in unison, they could provide a great | | | | who took action it was a great deal. Then the rules |
| deal of pain to any country that needs their fuel if they | | | | changed as all government programs are prone to do. |
| wanted to exercise their position. Many of us | | | | All factors point to the same place. Even if you have |
| remember the last oil embargo and the long lines to fill | | | | limited funds, the numbers are good enough to attract |
| your car with fuel. In addition, regardless of your political | | | | investors who may be in a position to buy these |
| persuasion, few people today disagree that the | | | | systems for you with you receiving some reward now |
| increased use of fossil fuels to our planet is affecting | | | | and a deeply discounted system a few years down |
| us negatively in many ways. Greenhouse gases, gulf | | | | the road. |
| oils spills, strip mining, nuclear waste are all real | | | | It is not often that the numbers, the government, the |
| concerns. | | | | country and the planet are all saying the same thing... |
| The only real consideration is the cost of these | | | | are you listening? |
| systems in relation to the savings they will offset once | | | | |